The Professional Hockey Writers Association (PHWA) is pleased to announce the 2026 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy nominees.
Each of the PHWA’s 32 local chapters submitted nominations for the Masterton Trophy, which is awarded annually to the NHL player who “best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to the game.”
The top three vote-getters, as determined by a membership-wide runoff, will be designated as finalists. The Masterton Trophy will be awarded, along with the other NHL major awards later this spring.
The following are this year’s nominees:
Anaheim: Ville Husso
Obtained last year by the Ducks, after his NHL career took a downturn in Detroit due to injuries and ineffective play with the Red Wings, Ville Husso impressed Anaheim enough in a late-season audition to earn a two-year contract extension. The 31-year-old was still nothing more than a strong organizational No. 3 goalie as veteran Petr Mrazek was slated to back up star Lukas Dostal. Mrazek struggled out of the gate in several appearances, while Husso stayed sharp for the AHL’s San Diego Gulls. But with a key winning effort against the rival Los Angeles Kings on Black Friday, Husso ran with that and grabbed the backup job. He’s gone 9-7-2 in 17 starts and delivered some strong performances in re-establishing himself as an effective NHL netminder. And the veteran has formed a friendly, quality tandem with Dostal in the crease.
Boston: Charlie McAvoy
The last few NHL seasons have not been easy ones for Charlie McAvoy. Last season, McAvoy’s season ended prematurely after suffering a shoulder injury during the 4 Nations Faceoff, and enduring a staph infection in his shoulder from treatment in the aftermath of the injury. This season, McAvoy has stayed healthy enough to play the majority of Boston’s games, but it has been a painful process after getting struck in the mouth with a deflected slapshot that fractured his jaw and knocked out many of his bottom teeth. McAvoy lost 20 pounds on a liquid diet, but missed less than a month before returning to the lineup. The intrepid B’s defenseman has lost more teeth in subsequent, excruciating on-ice incidents but has also put together arguably his best season winning a Team USA gold medal at the Olympics and approaching career highs in goals, assists and points for Boston.
Buffalo: Rasmus Dahlin
Captain Rasmus Dahlin’s spectacular season on the Buffalo Sabres’ defense has been played with a heavy heart, but with the promise of a new one as well. While on vacation over the summer in France, Dahlin’s fiancée, Carolina Matovec, was struck by heart failure and spent several weeks on life support. Eventually, Matovec received a heart transplant that required months of hospitalization and rehab. Matovec later revealed she had lost the couple’s unborn child. Dahlin took a leave of absence for a week in November to attend her periodic medical checkups in Sweden, and returned both at Christmas and following the Olympics. Matovec was deemed healthy enough to join him in Buffalo in March. Once the couple received positive news at the November checkups, Dahlin’s perseverance paid off. As his Norris profile grows, he is on pace for career highs in points and plus-minus, and the Sabres are playoff-bound for the first time since 2011.
Calgary: Devin Cooley
Devin Cooley’s journey to becoming a full time NHL goaltender is a testament to perseverance. The undrafted Northern California native spent three years as a backup at the University of Denver and five more as a minor league depth goalie, including two stints in the ECHL. After failing to gain traction with Nashville, Buffalo, and San Jose, he arrived in Calgary in 2024 with just six NHL games on his résumé. He broke out as an AHL All Star that season before a severe concussion in January derailed his season and threatened his career. Instead of fading, Cooley fought back, earning a full time NHL role at age 28. His 2.49 GAA and .915 save percentage have made him one of the Flames’ biggest revelations, as he sits amongst the league’s statistical leaders. Through every setback, Cooley’s optimism, work ethic, and candid personality have shone through, culminating in a two year extension and meaningful community work with Parachutes for Pets.
Carolina: Taylor Hall
Considered an afterthought by many when Carolina acquired him in the blockbuster three-team trade for Mikko Rantanen last season, Hall has become a vital cog in the Hurricanes’ attack. In his 16th season, the former Hart Trophy winner has teamed with a pair of second-year players — Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake — to form what coach Rod Brind’Amour has frequently cited as Carolina’s best line. A franchise cornerstone player earlier in his career, Hall has embraced taking on any duties given to him since coming to Raleigh, starting the season the fourth line before establishing himself in the top nine in his first full season with the Hurricanes. At 34, Hall’s explosiveness has returned after suffering a season-ending knee injury in 2023, and he’s added valuable secondary scoring to a team with Stanley Cup aspirations.
Chicago: Spencer Knight
Three years ago, goaltender Spencer Knight had to step away from the game to enter the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program so that he could get help managing obsessive-compulsive disorder. He then spent the following season in the AHL, working his way back to the Florida Panthers.
But since being traded to the Blackhawks at last season’s trade deadline, Knight has quickly emerged not only as a true No. 1 goalie, but as a leader in a very young dressing room that often looks to him for a calming voice and a big-picture life perspective. On the ice, he’s been a top-five goalie in terms of goals saved above expected all season, giving some much-needed stability and support to the youngest blue line in the NHL.
Colorado: Gabe Landeskog
Gabe Landeskog missed three full regular seasons with knee issues after playing through injury during the 2022 Stanley Cup run. He had four major procedures done, including knee cartilage replacement surgery in May 2023. He became the first player ever to return to the NHL after having that procedure done when he re-joined the Avalanche during the 2025 playoffs. If his comeback wasn’t remarkable enough, his first full season back has included broken ribs after crashing into the net in January and then, in his own words, he “took a 96 miles-per-hour slapshot to the nuts” from Cale Makar. Landeskog needed surgery but only missed seven games. His reputation as one of the best leaders in sports has been buttressed this season, helping the Avalanche to the best record in the NHL. As of March 25, Colorado is 38-4-7 when Landeskog is in the lineup and 9-9-3 when he is not.
Columbus: Boone Jenner
Boone Jenner, 32, has been a rugged, hard-working player across his 13 seasons and almost 800 games in the NHL, all with the Blue Jackets. He has been the Columbus captain since 2021. The way Jenner plays — relentlessly hard, but never dirty — has led to inevitable injuries, and Jenner has missed large chunks of games due to back injuries, a broken hand, a broken jaw, shoulder surgery and other maladies. He also missed time late in the 2024 season when his first child with wife Maggie was stillborn. Through it all, Jenner, a former 30-goal scorer, has played all over the lineup — including a recent drop to fourth-line center — without complaint or a dip in his effort. He’s also one of the Blue Jackets’ go-to guys for community involvement. He’s a team-first player who represents each of the characteristics the Masterton Trophy aims to recognize.
Dallas: Jamie Benn
There may not be a better example of “dedication to ice hockey” than Jamie Benn. The longest-tenured captain in Stars history returned for his 17th season after uncertainty about retirement last summer. In a selfless, team-first move, the 36-year-old took an $8.5 million annual pay cut to help Dallas retain younger stars like Mikko Rantanen, Jason Robertson and Wyatt Johnston. Despite playing 371 consecutive games from 2021-25, Benn missed the first 19 games this season after suffering a collapsed lung in preseason. Since returning in a reduced role compared to his Art Ross-winning peak, he has still produced 14 goals and 30 points in 48 games, helping Dallas contend for the Presidents’ Trophy. Whether healthy or not, Benn’s leadership remains central to the Stars’ success. After a career full of accolades, a Stanley Cup is the last achievement the entire Stars organization is working to reach for him.
Detroit: Dominik Shine
Dominik Shine’s story is the definition of perseverance and dedication, playing eight years in the AHL before finally making his NHL debut at age 31 in January of 2025. This season, he scored his first career NHL goal at age 32, and has helped the Red Wings offset injuries by providing a steady presence in the bottom six. His willingness to grind in the minors, mentoring young players, while still doing everything possible to earn an opportunity at the NHL level is what the Masterton Trophy is meant to honor.
Edmonton: Connor Ingram
Connor Ingram is an NHL goalie who battles his obsessive-compulsive disorder, to some degree, every day. His mask is decorated in fine lines, because he’d rather people didn’t stare. “I just don’t like people lookin’ at me,” Ingram said. Last summer, Ingram emerged from the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program only to have his training camp invite rescinded by the Utah Mammoth. Instead, the Mammoth retained some salary so they could trade him to goaltending-poor Edmonton — a favour, to be sure.
After a few months in the AHL, Ingram arrived in Edmonton and eventually took over the No. 1 job from Tristan Jarry. He turns 29 on March 31 and has resurrected his career to the point where he’ll guide the Edmonton Oilers into the playoffs as their starter. “You don’t get many more chances at this. This isn’t something that you come back from very often,” he said.
Florida: Brad Marchand
Brad Marchand was a major reason the Florida Panthers stayed in the Stanley Cup playoff race as long as they did in a trying season, even as he battled injuries himself. Prior to essentially being shut down in mid-March due to a lingering lower-body injury, Marchand was second on the Panthers with 27 goals and 54 points in 52 games. He served as an alternate captain as Florida has played without captain Aleksander Barkov all season and was without Matthew Tkachuk for its first 47 games. Marchand’s leadership proved vital in the dressing room and on the ice. Marchand made his impact felt in his hometown, too. He served as a guest hockey coach for the under-18 Marchand and Mill Co. Hunters in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in October for friend JP MacCallum, whose 10-year-old daughter Selah died after a battle with cancer. That game served as a fundraiser for the MacCallum family.
Los Angeles: Anze Kopitar
Anze Kopitar will conclude his 20th season as a Los Angeles King holding seven regular season franchise records, including most games played, points and assists, and holds playoff records for most games played and overtime goals. In addition to being a two-time Stanley Cup champion, Kopitar has earned six NHL Awards (3 Lady Byngs, 2 Selkes and a Messier Award); only Wayne Gretzky earned more individual NHL Awards while playing with the Kings. As the longest-tenured captain in franchise history, Kopitar has led Los Angeles in scoring 15 times, only second behind Gordie Howe (17 times) as a points leader for one franchise in NHL history. He is only the eighth player born and trained outside North America to record 1,300 points.
Minnesota: Jesper Wallstedt
Jesper Wallstedt thought he’d forgotten how to be a goaltender.
Although the plan was for him to spend last season in the NHL, Wallstedt was stuck in the minors and struggling in net. His own harshest critic, Wallstedt got “lost in my own mind.” He talked to sports psychologists to get his head in the right spot, and after he was promoted to be Filip Gustavsson’s backup this season, Wallstedt very much played like the goalie of the future he was hyped to be when the Wild drafted him in the first round in 2021. At 23, Wallstedt became the second-youngest goaltender in NHL history with a season-opening point streak of at least 10 games, and his 7-0 run (which included four shutouts) helped catapult the Wild out of a bad start into a Stanley Cup contender — a turnaround marked by Wallstedt’s signature postgame celebration, a stick raise to the sky.
Montreal: Mike Matheson
Mike Matheson continue de progresser et d’évoluer comme hockeyeur même rendu à l’âge de 32 ans. Depuis son arrivée chez le Canadien en 2022, il est devenu le quart-arrière de l’équipe en avantage numérique, établissant un sommet personnel avec 62 points en 2023-24, avant de céder gracieusement ce rôle à Lane Hutson la saison suivante. Matheson brille désormais dans un rôle défensif chez le Canadien, particulièrement en infériorité numérique. Il continue d’être employé pendant plus de 24 minutes par match, souvent face aux meilleurs attaquants adverses. Il demeure aussi l’un des membres importants de l’équipe dans le vestiaire, encadrant une jeune brigade défensive.
Mike Matheson keeps progressing and evolving as a hockey player, even at 32 years old. Since the defenseman was acquired by the Canadiens in 2022, he became the team’s quarterback on the power play, enabling him to immediately establish a new career-high 62 points in 2023-24 — before he graciously paved the way for Lane Hutson to inherit the role the very next season. Matheson now shines as a defensive defenseman with the Canadiens, who thrives on the penalty kill and still plays over 24 minutes per game, most of them in premium matchups against the opposition’s best players. He is also a key player in the locker room, nurturing a young group of blueliners.
Nashville: Ozzy Wiesblatt
Ozzy Wiesblatt grew up with challenges few others face. As a CODA (child of deaf adult), he, his three brothers Orca, Oasiz, and Ocean, and sister Oceania, first learned sign language, and their mother Kim put them in sports to further develop their English and communication skills. In September, the Wiesblatts suffered tragedy no family can prepare for. While in training camp with the Predators, Ozzy learned of the sudden death of older brother Orca, a forward with the Allen Americans (ECHL). After his brother’s death, Ozzy left camp with the team’s blessing to mourn with his family. Wiesblatt persevered. He returned to the Predators that same month and made the opening night roster. That led to a powerful moment on Dec. 2 playing against his hometown Calgary Flames. After Ozzy scored his first NHL goal, he pointed to the sky, remembering his late brother. “That was for (Orca),” he said.
New Jersey: Brenden Dillon
After a frightening neck injury in Game 1 of the 2025 playoffs that required artificial disc replacement surgery, Brenden Dillon leaned on advice from NHL and UFC athletes during a rigorous offseason recovery. He returned stronger in 2025-26, anchoring the Devils’ blue line with noticeably improved defensive play while continuing to sacrifice his body for the betterment of his team. A true warrior, the 35-year-old veteran reached his 1,000th NHL game on December 1, 2025. In that milestone game, Dillon suffered a scary fall and was injured, though he briefly returned for shifts in an unthinkable effort and earned widespread respect from coaches and peers for his toughness — despite missing the third period as a precaution. On and off the ice, Dillon is a vocal leader who holds teammates accountable, encourages them, constantly sticks up for them, and mentors younger players, inspiring the entire Devils locker room with his selfless commitment and dedication to the game.
NY Islanders: Kyle Palmieri
Kyle Palmieri’s last play of the season perfectly encapsulated his perseverance and dedication to both the sport and to his teammates. He tore his left ACL on Nov. 28 after colliding with Jamie Drysdale, falling to the ice clutching his knee behind the Flyers’ crease. Play continued and Palmieri was eventually able to drag himself up and limp toward the Islanders’ bench. On the way, he stripped Emil Andrae of the puck to set up Emil Heineman’s goal at 5:42 of the second period to start a rally from a three-goal deficit in an eventual 4-3 shootout loss. The 35-year-old forward has spent 16 NHL seasons playing in a hard-nosed, gritty manner all the while displaying sportsmanship toward his fellow competitors.
NY Rangers: Matthew Robertson
Five years, nine months and 29 days after the Rangers drafted him 49th-overall in 2019, Matthew Robertson made his NHL debut in the second-to-last game of the 2024-25 season. Robertson may have earned his shot when the Rangers were eliminated from playoff contention, but the 25-year-old worked tirelessly in the American Hockey League to refine his game for when the opportunity finally knocked. After making the Rangers out of training camp this season as the seventh defenseman, Robertson soon became a regular on the Blueshirts’ back end and has continued to develop his game.
Ottawa: Linus Ullmark
Linus Ullmark, 32, is in his second season with the Ottawa Senators after joining through trade in June 2024. After a below-standard start to his 2025-26 season, the netminder left the Senators for personal reasons in December. Ullmark later revealed in an interview with TSN that he suffered anxiety attacks during a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs and had unresolved mental health struggles since leaving the Boston Bruins through trade, leading to him consulting a health professional from the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program. Ullmark’s teammates and general manager voiced their support in the aftermath. Since his return to play, Ullmark has won the majority of his starts, and the team’s overall goaltending performance has improved. As a result, the Senators have surged back into a playoff race.
Philadelphia: Garrett Wilson
Before a few weeks ago, Garrett Wilson’s last appearance in an NHL game came way back on April 16, 2019. In between that playoff game for the Penguins and dressing for the Flyers for the first time on March 19, he appeared in 408 AHL games, plugging away in the minors in hopes of another NHL shot. While with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms – the Flyers’ AHL affiliate – Wilson readily took up the role of mentor to the organization’s many young prospects, taking the lead in helping them with their transitions to the pro game and defending them in on-ice battles (often with his fists), eventually earning the role of captain in 2023-24. Wilson didn’t even have an NHL contract until early March, but his hard work & dedication was rewarded by the Flyers, and after nearly seven years away, Wilson made his long-awaited and well-earned return to the NHL.
Pittsburgh: Anthony Mantha
After suffering a torn right ACL in November of 2024, Anthony Mantha’s 2024-25 season with the Calgary Flames came to a premature conclusion. And during the ensuing offseason, he had few suitors as an unrestricted free agent. The Pittsburgh Penguins took a chance, signing Mantha to a one-year contract, allowing him to prove he was still capable of being a reliable scoring winger. Mantha has done that in smashing fashion this season by setting new career highs for goals and points while having not missed a game (as of mid-March). Additionally, he has been a leader to younger teammates, providing sound guidance on and off the ice, including how to dress for road trips. Above all else, Mantha has been a significant driver of the Penguins’ surprising pursuit of the playoffs in so many ways, particularly when mainstays such as Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin have been sidelined.
San Jose: Laurent Brossoit
Laurent Brossoit persevered through two knee surgeries, missing the entire 2024-25 season, and the mental anguish of not knowing if he would dress for another game before he made his first professional start in nearly 18 months in December. He then started his first NHL game in almost two years in March. “There was a big part of me that thought my career was done,” the 33-year-old veteran goalie said recently. Doctors, with Brossoit’s help, discovered the root cause of the knee pain last summer. After a second surgery, Brossoit worked his way back with Rockford of the AHL, and on Dec. 5, his dedication paid off as he played his first professional game since April 2024. Acquired by San Jose from the Blackhawks in January, Brossoit was recalled from the AHL on March 13 and started his first NHL game in 695 days on March 15.
Seattle: Jordan Eberle
A collision with the end boards in November left Jordan Eberle with a separated pubic symphysis joint, an injury so rare that Seattle’s medical staff could find no hockey player who had ever undergone the required surgery. The 35-year-old spent a month immobilized, progressing from a hospital bed to a wheelchair, to crutches, learning to walk again while his wife delivered their third child just two days after the procedure. With no established rehabilitation protocol, there was genuine uncertainty if he would ever play again. After a grueling rehab, Eberle returned to the team and leads the Kraken in points this season, returning to the form the team’s captain was unsure he would ever find again.
St. Louis: Jordan Binnington
Jordan Binnington, 32, is having the most difficult season of his career, but it would be short-sighted to focus on that when he’s set the Blues’ record for the most games played (348) and most wins (152) by a goaltender. Once the organization’s overlooked, fourth-string goalie, Binnington won a Stanley Cup in 2019, a 4 Nations Face-Off gold medal in 2025 and an Olympic silver medal in 2026. It’s been a trying season in 2025-26, as he’s endured the lowest save percentage of his career and lost his starting job to Joel Hofer. But Binnington has been supportive of Hofer — just as Jake Allen was supportive of Binnington when he burst onto the scene in 2019 — and meanwhile, Binnington continues to rewrite the Blues’ record books and bring home some international hardware.
Tampa Bay: Darren Raddysh
Darren Raddysh has always had to fight for everything. He was undrafted, spent five years in junior hockey and another five in the AHL before the Lightning gave him his first real NHL opportunity. A healthy scratch in 7 of the first 13 games this season, a number of injuries opened the door of opportunity, and Raddysh became this season’s top breakout defenseman. He leads all NHL defensemen in power play goals (10) and became the third Lightning defenseman to record 20 goals in a season. Raddysh has been motivated by his father, Dwayne, who was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer in May and died on March 3. “My dad instilled in my brother and I that, whatever you’re doing, make sure you’re doing it to your best. You’d rather go down fighting, trying as hard as you can. You don’t want to look back and think you kind of half-assed it.”
Toronto: Oliver Ekman-Larsson
In a season where the Maple Leafs face a record one-year drop in points, Oliver Ekman-Larsson raised his game. Completing an 11th NHL campaign with at least 70 games played (ranked third among all active Swedish defensemen with 1,130 career appearances and counting), he was Toronto’s steadiest in a group that lost minute muncher Chris Tanev for the season and drained by slumps by almost the entire blueline. The only games OEL missed to date were two for roster management purposes at the trade deadline and one to be present for the birth of his second child. At eight goals and 28 assists already, this will be the 34-year-old’s best season in total points since 2018-19 with the Arizona Coyotes. He is averaging almost 21 minutes of ice time a game, and his production was recognized with promotion to the first power-play unit late in the season. Ekman-Larsson has been lauded by his coach and teammates for steady physical play, with Toronto’s third-most hits and second-most penalty minutes, a style he’s maintained after coming back from representing Sweden in the 2026 Olympics.
Utah: Clayton Keller
Clayton Keller best exemplifies the qualities of the Masterton trophy after playing through the tragic loss of his father, helping USA win gold at the Olympics, and leading Utah to a likely playoff spot. Despite the unexpected passing of his father, Keller refused to miss a game, lifted his teammates (specifically carried Logan Cooley to the bench after he sustained an injury), played in his hometown just days later, and even addressed the media despite intense emotions. Through the ups and downs, Keller has also led the Mammoth in scoring all year and played a significant role as the organization trends towards their first-ever postseason berth. Amidst trial, Keller’s game and leadership have never wavered.
Vancouver: Kevin Lankinen
When you’re the goalie for a team that is up against it every night, you might understand it if that got a little dispiriting. But every day and every night, Kevin Lankinen comes to work with a smile on his face.
The Vancouver Canucks’ goalie is truly one of the good ones. He shows up to work knowing how blessed he is to be an NHLer. He helped the Canucks out of a injured list jam in 2024-25, won a contract extension out of it and is locked in as one of the Canucks’ clear leaders as they begin their new era. Beyond backstopping the Canucks, it has been a remarkable season for Lankinen. He and wife Lina welcomed a baby boy in September, bringing incredible joy to their life after a difficult pregnancy. And he was named as one of Finland’s three goalies at the Olympics, where he won a bronze medal, another thrill of a lifetime.
Vegas: Akira Schmid
Akira Schmid’s perseverance and dedication to hockey paid off with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2025-26, playing his first full season in the NHL, and starting a game for Switzerland in the Olympics. Schmid spent the majority of the last four years improving his game in the minors, and broke through for a career-high in starts and wins in the NHL. In a season of inconsistency and injuries in the Vegas crease, Schmid has been a constant for the Golden Knights and is a big reason they’re still in a playoff position. He is the consummate teammate and plays whatever role is asked of him, which often includes skating late with shooters after practice, or entering a game cold and playing lights out to steady the ship. His modest, intrinsically motivated mindset is perfect for the often underappreciated but important role he has played for the team.
Washington: Alex Ovechkin
In Alex Ovechkin’s 21st season with the Capitals, and after breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record a season ago, he continues to play with the same passion and dedication he has given to the game since entering the league in 2005. At 40 years old, Ovechkin continues to be an integral part of the Capitals’ locker room. And on the ice, Ovechkin leads the team in goals and has made history again this season, hitting 1,000 career goals combining regular season and playoffs and tying Gordie Howe for the most 25-goal seasons in NHL history. He remains undecided on his future going into next season but has maintained a love for hockey that is contagious in the dressing room.
Winnipeg: Jonathan Toews
Jonathan Toews returned to the NHL this season after an absence of two-and-a-half years, dealing with a variety of health-related issues, including long Covid and Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) that have been plaguing him since 2020. Toews stepped away from the game at the end of the 2022-23 season, unsure what his future in the sport would hold. His return to health included traveling to India for Ayurvedic Treatment. Toews, 37, signed a one-year deal with his hometown team and has proceeded to be among the league leaders in faceoff percentage. He’s reached double digits in goals for a 16th consecutive season and on pace to suit up in 82 games for the first time since 2018-19. The three-time Stanley Cup champion has also played a valuable role as a mentor. His successful comeback is the picture of perseverance and dedication to hockey.
